Devin McCourty re-signs with New England Patriots

Devin McCourty has agreed a new five-year deal to remain with the New England Patriots.

The 27-year-old was due to hit the free-agent market on Tuesday after conceding that his spell with Bill Belichick's men could be over.

McCourty talked with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles and was close to an exit from the Patriots before the club offered him a five-year contract worth $47.5m (£31.3m), with $28m (£18.5m) guaranteed, which he immediately accepted.

He told ESPN: "I'm blessed to say we had other teams that were interested, but I said all along that I knew in my heart that I wanted to be back in New England.

"But I also knew the business side of football, and I had to do what I had to do. I'm back, but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't possibilities over the last two days that I was going to be somewhere else. I'm happy it all worked out."

McCourty has recorded 388 tackles, one sack and 17 interceptions in his five-year NFL career.